Hansraj Gupta
Encyclopedia
Hansraj Gupta was an India
n mathematician
specialising in number theory
, in particular the study of the partition function
.
, then part of British India. He studied at the Panjab University in Lahore
, where he graduated with a M.A.
in 1925. In 1928 he became a lecturer
at the Government College in Hoshiarpur
. He received his Ph.D.
from the Panjab University in 1936. By then he had already published several papers on partitions
.
Gupta was elected a fellow
of the Indian National Science Academy
(INSA) in 1950. He became head of the Panjab University's new department of mathematics
in 1954. He served as President of the Indian Mathematical Society
(IMS) for the term 1963–4. He retired as director of the Centre of Advanced Study in Mathematics in 1966, by which time he was already travelling North America
as a visiting professor: at the University of Colorado at Boulder
(1962), the University of Arizona
(1966), and the University of Alberta
(1969). He represented the INSA at the 1974 International Congress of Mathematicians
in Vancouver
. He continued actively researching and publishing mathematics for many years after retirement.
Gupta died November 23, 1988. Since 1990 the annual IMS conference has included a lecture in his honour, the Hansraj Gupta Memorial Award Lecture.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
specialising in number theory
Number theory
Number theory is a branch of pure mathematics devoted primarily to the study of the integers. Number theorists study prime numbers as well...
, in particular the study of the partition function
Partition (number theory)
In number theory and combinatorics, a partition of a positive integer n, also called an integer partition, is a way of writing n as a sum of positive integers. Two sums that differ only in the order of their summands are considered to be the same partition; if order matters then the sum becomes a...
.
Biography
Gupta was born October 9, 1902 in RawalpindiRawalpindi
Rawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...
, then part of British India. He studied at the Panjab University in Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, where he graduated with a M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in 1925. In 1928 he became a lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
at the Government College in Hoshiarpur
Hoshiarpur
Hoshiarpur is a city and a municipal council in Hoshiarpur district in the Indian state of Punjab. It was founded, according to tradition, during the early part of the fourth century. In 1809 it was occupied by the forces of Maharaja Karanvir Singh and was united into the greater state of Punjab....
. He received his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from the Panjab University in 1936. By then he had already published several papers on partitions
Partition (number theory)
In number theory and combinatorics, a partition of a positive integer n, also called an integer partition, is a way of writing n as a sum of positive integers. Two sums that differ only in the order of their summands are considered to be the same partition; if order matters then the sum becomes a...
.
Gupta was elected a fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
of the Indian National Science Academy
Indian National Science Academy
The Indian National Science Academy , New Delhi is the apex body of Indian scientists representing all branches of science & technology.-History:...
(INSA) in 1950. He became head of the Panjab University's new department of mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
in 1954. He served as President of the Indian Mathematical Society
Indian Mathematical Society
Indian Mathematical Society is the oldest organization in India devoted to the promotion of study and research in mathematics. The Society was founded in April 1907 by V. Ramaswamy Aiyer with its head-quarters at Pune. The Society started its activities under the name Analytic Club and the name...
(IMS) for the term 1963–4. He retired as director of the Centre of Advanced Study in Mathematics in 1966, by which time he was already travelling North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
as a visiting professor: at the University of Colorado at Boulder
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
(1962), the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
(1966), and the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
(1969). He represented the INSA at the 1974 International Congress of Mathematicians
International Congress of Mathematicians
The International Congress of Mathematicians is the largest conference for the topic of mathematics. It meets once every four years, hosted by the International Mathematical Union ....
in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
. He continued actively researching and publishing mathematics for many years after retirement.
Gupta died November 23, 1988. Since 1990 the annual IMS conference has included a lecture in his honour, the Hansraj Gupta Memorial Award Lecture.